I purchased Drumheller Registries in July of 2017, but it has been incorporated since 1999. I saw it as an opportunity considering we owned a restaurant before this and a good fit for our family because of its Monday to Friday schedule. Also, it's an excellent way to support our community too. We get to see and interact with everybody, so we approach it as more than just a registry. I realized when I started working here that this business is a big part of people's life events - their first car, marriage licence, and birth certificates. We don't want to be a negative aspect of those occasions, so we try to the best of our abilities to navigate what our community members need.
I did underestimate, however, when we first took the business over. I was a general manager for four restaurants and owned Mcdonald's for years before this, and the environment was very different. The learning curve was steep, and the logistical aspect was tricky because we're essentially an agent for the government. We have to follow legislation and policy, and it constantly changes. But, most importantly, because we have access to people's information, we must identify the changing processes that the government puts into play much quicker and more intensively. It can sometimes be challenging, but we need to be a trusted source, so we train our staff accordingly to provide an accurate service.
I would say the corporate registry, as many people associate us more with the vehicle side. We offer services that involve incorporating a business, filing annual returns, reserving a name, registering a sole proprietorship or a partnership, and other corporate transactions.
Our biggest challenge would be helping our clients navigate the rules. Sometimes our clients would come in expecting to follow the same process they have done for years and be overwhelmed with all the changes they need to follow. Our job is to ensure that we look at the news daily and check our internal systems for any policy shifts.
We definitely have to be adaptable, especially when the rules are hard to understand. Some are also travelling from distant places and could be frustrated with the various adjustments they experience. Nevertheless, we try to make their transactions as hassle-free as possible, so we work diligently to be up to date with requirements.
What I look forward to the most is the certainty in terms of regulations. You have to make an appointment in some offices, and some don't. We've recently just taken down our physical barriers, but hopefully, the regulations will be clearer for our clients.
I think the knowledge the Chamber offers. For example, when COVID broke out, it was great that there were resources provided breaking down CERB. As a result, I could understand it more simply and access what I needed. The networking with other business members is also beneficial.
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